Quartz Glass Crucible Handling Device with Elastic Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handling large quartz glass crucibles is challenging due to contamination risks during inspection and packing, especially when multiple layers of packing are involved, as existing devices struggle to firmly sandwich and move them without slipping or falling, particularly in clean environments.
Innovation Solution
A crucible handling device with a frame, movable arms, sandwiching means featuring rollers with elastic outer layers, engagement means with movable tongues, and pivoting capabilities to securely grasp and transfer quartz glass crucibles, even when packed with multiple layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple layers of packing are applied to the crucible to prevent contamination, then contamination protection is improved, but the handling reliability deteriorates because the handling device cannot firmly sandwich the crucible due to slippery packing members
Solution Approach 1:
The sandwiching mechanism is divided into multiple independent rollers arranged in parallel. Each roller independently contacts the packing layers, distributing the clamping force across multiple contact points. This segmentation allows the system to maintain firm grip despite the slippery nature of individual packing surfaces, resolving the contradiction between contamination protection and handling reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic outer layer of the rollers changes the friction characteristics by providing a compliant surface that deforms to conform to the packing layers. This elastic deformation increases the effective contact area and friction force, enabling reliable sandwiching of the multi-layer packed crucible without compromising contamination protection
2Productivity
If the size of the quartz glass crucible is increased to improve manufacturing efficiency, then productivity is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in handling and increased contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The handling device is designed with a universal sandwiching mechanism that can accommodate various crucible sizes through adjustable roller positions and engagement means. The multi-roller configuration provides stable support for large crucibles while maintaining the same contamination protection principles, thus improving productivity without sacrificing handling ease
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic rollers act as an intermediary between the handling device and the crucible packing. This intermediary element provides the necessary friction and compliance to handle large, heavy crucibles safely and easily, reducing the risk of dropping or contaminating them while maintaining high productivity
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mechanical packing is used to maintain clean environment, then contamination is reduced, but the ease of operation worsens because the handling device cannot properly handle the packed crucible
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement means incorporates movable tongues that can dynamically adjust their position and apply force adaptively. This dynamic adjustment allows the handling device to properly engage and handle mechanically packed crucibles of varying sizes and packing configurations, maintaining both contamination protection and handling ease
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device ensures reliable and contamination-free transfer of large quartz glass crucibles by firmly sandwiching and holding them, preventing slipping or falling, even with slippery packing members, thereby maintaining cleanliness and efficiency in handling operations.
Implementation Method 1
rollers each having an elastic layer in an outer periphery
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a crucible handling device that can firmly sandwich and reliably move a quartz glass crucible under a clean environment and a method of handling a quartz glass crucible using the crucible handling device. The present invention provides a crucible handling device 1 for handling a quartz glass crucible 5, the device including: a frame 4 having a beam 2 extending in a horizontal direction and a pair of arms 3 protruding from the beam 2 in a direction perpendicular to a central axis line direction of the beam 2 such that at least one of the arms 3 is able to move in the central axis line direction of the beam 2; a pair of sandwiching means 6 assembled with the pair of the arm 3 to face each other, for sandwiching a body 50 of the quartz glass crucible 5 in a radial direction of the crucible; engagement means 7 provided adjacent to each sandwiching means 6 and formed by a pair of tongues 70 movable to approach or be separated from each other in a central axis direction of the crucible, for sandwiching and holding the quartz glass crucible 5 therebetween in the central axis direction of the crucible; and driving means 8 for causing the sandwiching means 6 and the engagement means 7 to reciprocate along the arm 3. The present invention also provides a method of handling a quartz glass crucible using such a device 1 as described above.